Patient Claim Line welcomes the independent inquiry into the quality and safety of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), as well as the police investigation into maternity cases.

Our experts are representing those who’ve been asked to take part in the review. The review will look into the deaths of babies and harm caused to both babies and mothers across the Trust’s three sites – including Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre.

We strive to help our clients throughout this process, offering advice on the investigation, and help them fight for the answers they deserve.

If you have suffered as a result of poor maternity care from the Nottingham University Hospital Trust, our team are here to help.

We offer a free, no obligation consultation, so if you have any questions or just want to understand how we may be able to help please do get in touch.

Why is there an inquiry?

In May 2022 the Senior Midwife Donna Ockenden was appointed to Chair the independent review of maternity services at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH).

This came after concerns were raised regarding the quality and safety of maternity services at the Trust, which have consistently failed to achieve the targets set out to improve patient outcomes.

The inquiry is thought to involve roughly 1,800 families, including families from Lincoln and Derbyshire, and will include experienced doctors and midwives working in maternity services right across England.

Over recent years concerns relating to the maternity services provided by the NHS has been under scrutiny, with many mothers experiencing devastating outcomes which has lead to birth injuries and, in some cases, pre and neonatal deaths.

The investigation into the Trust follows a similar review of maternity services in the NHS which had a focussed on Hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trust, and was also chaired by Donna Ockenden. This review has now been concluded and a report has been published.

Are the police involved?

In September 2023 Nottinghamshire Police announced that they were preparing an investigation into maternity cases at the Trust which are of ‘potentially significant concern’.

Additional information has not yet been published, however we understand the investigation was launched after a meeting with Donna Ockenden, where her independent review into services in the city was discussed.

We are currently monitoring the progress of the independent review and police investigation so we are best placed to support our clients and help them understand the findings as and when they are published.

How can our legal experts help you?

We welcome this review and hope that there can be quick and effective change to the maternity services in Nottingham. Unfortunately, this has come too late for some mothers who were affected by poor quality and safety standards at the Trust. Our experts are supporting some who have been asked to be part of the review and had have experienced devesting outcomes.

We aim to ensure these families are supported through the process, and we understand it can feel daunting.

We offer a free consultation, so if you believe you have been affected by substandard maternity care either in Nottingham, or elsewhere in the UK, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We have a specialist birth injury team who can help you navigate the legal process and can help get the answers you need and also access to support for you and your family.

One of the questions which we get from people looking for our help is how is this going to be funded. We know that this can be an uncertain time which is why we offer a No Win, No Fee arrangement. This means that there’s no upfront payment and no financial risk to you.

Christian Beadell who heads up the team helping former patients at the Trust commented: “Whilst we do welcome this investigation it is deeply troubling to see that there are so many families whose lives have been potentially impacted by poor care at the Trust.

“What is equalling concerning is a review of the services available at Nottingham City Hospital which shows that as recently as July 2023, the maternity department continues to fail to meet its target despite the emphasis of the inquiry on making significant and immediate improvements amidst growing concerns mothers and babies were not safe.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure that lessons are learnt and that the issues which have been identified are dealt with to prevent others suffering as our clients have.”